k COMPENDIUM 

AND 

Q u E s T [ON Book 

O F 

I'AIILIttiEllTll.llY UW 


LILIAN COLE BETHEL 


TESTIMONIALS 


I ha 
little n 
makes 


Tha 

Law. 

impre* 

admit: 


1 ha 
have I 
like y( 
ers ” s 
it is t 
meetii 
carry 


FROM BISHOP VINCENT. 

Nov., ’92. 
r admirable 
ide sale. It 

NCENT. 



[ERSITY, I 

lo, 1892. f 
rliameiitary 
‘y favorable 
make it ai\ 

D, Pres’t. 

:c. 5, 1892. 
Usage, and 
Dractical. I 
iblic Speak- 
Altogcther 
es of public 
ben. 1 shall 

VIAN, 

W. c. T. U. 


I CO 
ventio 
rect a 
parlia 


(’lass 

Book 


^ 18, 1892. 
fion of con-' 
Igh and cor- 
e subject of 

ODY, 

W. C. T. U. 


V. 19, 1892. 

You der an excel¬ 
lent guiuv, 11 . ouv.*. __.j__ Ordinary use 

than anything I have yet had. 1} have and will recommend it to 
\V. C. T. Unions and other societies. Sincerely yours, 

JOSEPHINE R. NICHOLS, Nat’l Lecturer. 


Cincinnati, O., Nov. 30, 1892. 

I am in receipt of Mrs. Bethel’s courageous venture on parlia¬ 
mentary practice. It is on a unique plan. It is a very neat, 
comprehensive, and useful publication that deserves, and I doubt 
not will have, a large circulationi She has done the work admir¬ 
ably. Sincerely yours, JOHN PEARSON, 

P. E. Cincinnati Dist. M. E. Church. 

V 

^HicAGO, III., Nov. 22, 1892. 

1 have carefully examined your Compendium of Parliamentary 
Law, and believe it e^cactly meets* the needs of the vast constitu- 









ency of the W. C. T. U. It is simple, plain, and yet comprehen¬ 
sive enough to cover all the points that could possibly arise in 
any of our conventions. 1 shall be glad to see it introduced in 
my State. Yours most respectfully, 

LOUISE S. ROUNDS, 

_ State Pres. Ill. W. C. T. U. 

New York, Dec. 17, 1892. 

1 cordially recommend your new “ Compendium and Question 
Book.” It is in such an easy form to carry to meetings, and at 
such a reasonable price that every member of the Y. W. C. T. 
L^nions should possess a copy. And our young women will find 
parliamentary lessons from it helpful and entertaining. 

Yours for good order, FRANCES J. BARNES, 
Gen’l Sec. Young Women’s Branch Nat’l W. (’. T. U. 


('OLUMBUs, ()., October 13, 1892. 

I have examined with care and pleasure your “Compendium 
and Question Book of Parliamentary Law,” and speak for it a 
large field of usefulness. Your mode of presenting parliamentary 
practice—by questions and answers—so simplifies what is gen¬ 
erally difficult, that a novice can soon become proficient and feel 
at ease in a deliberative society, and confidently take an active 
part in its proceedings. With kind regards, 

ORESTES A. B. SENDER, 

Gen’l Grand Master, R. & S. M. of the U. S. 


Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 10, 1892. 

1 think your book very good. It is clear, compact and concise. 
And anyone who takes an interest in the rules which govern de¬ 
liberative assemblies can easily master its contents. 

Yours truly, ZERELDA G. WALLACE. 

_ (Mother Wallace.) 

ColuK!bus, O., Oct. 26, 1892. 

A neat little book by Lilian Cole Bethel, entitled, “A Com¬ 
pendium and Question Book of Parliamentary Law,” is on my 
table. I have examined it carefully. It is certainly a very con¬ 
venient and helpful manual on this subject, and I heartily rec¬ 
ommend it. F. V. IRISH, Author and Lecturer. 


“A Compendium and Question Book of Parliamentary Law,” 
by Mrs. Lilian Cole Bethel, is a very neat little book published 
by the author in this city. While it is systematically arranged 
for ready reference in the W. C. T. U. and W. R. C. organiza¬ 
tions, women’s clubs, normal classes and other deliberative bod¬ 
ies, it will be found a convenient pocket manual for all classes 
who have occasion to study parliamentary usage. It gives the 
cream of Cushing, Robeits, Neely, Smith and others in charts 
and condensed forms so as to be exceptionally convenient for ref¬ 
erence and ready use. It is just what it purports to be, and is a 
complete guide to all who either take part or sit as spectators in 
deliberative bodies .—Ohio State Journal. 


Capital Encampment, No. 6, I. (). (). F., I 
Columbus, f)., Dec. 20, 1892. f 

Tq "Whom it may cQncern; This is to certify that we, as officers 








of Capital Encampment, No. 6, 1. O. O. F., have carefully exam¬ 
ined the Question Book of Parliamentary Law by Lilian Cole 
Bethel, and find it complete and concise in its details. We there¬ 
fore take pleasure in recommending this work to the favorable 
consideration of all persons in want of a first-class assistant in 
parliamentary laws. JOHN OTTO, C. P. 

T E. B. BLISS, Scribe. 

_ W. H. NOBLE, Sr., Treas. 

r> ^ Xenia, O., December 12, 1892. 

I have been so charmed and delighted with the “ Compendium 
and Question Book of Parliamentary Law” that I scarcely 
know how to express my pleasure and delight with it, from the 
title page to the closing chapter of “A Few Hints in Behalf of 
Public Speakers.” Condensed parliamentary laws have been 
brought to our notice many times, but we had nothing in that 
direction that can at all compare with this little book. It is a 
wonderful condensation of the works of Cushing, Roberts, Smith 
and Neely, which have so long been the accepted authorities 
upon this subject, and is adapted to the use of large deliberative 
bodies as well as to smaller organizations. In the “Compend¬ 
ium ” all is culled out, simplified, prepared for use, so that we 
who run can read. It is made so easy for all. With all our 
heart we recommend it to our unions, and hope they will find it 
so necessary to the good conduct of their meetings and rapid dis¬ 
patch of business as to place it in the hands of every member. 

Yours with love, HENRIETTA L. MONROE, 

State Pres’t Ohio W. C. T. U. 


Columbus, O., Feb. 4, 1893. 

I have examined, thoroughly Mrs. Bethel’s Compendium of 
Parliamentary Law, and am delighted with its simplicity and 
directness. I take pleasure in recommending it to Relief Corps, 
officers, and think it should be a part of Corps outfits, as new 
Corps are often deficient in a knowledge of parliamentary 
usage. ANNIE W. CLARK, 

Assistant Instituting and Installing Officer, Ninth District, 
Department of Ohio, W. R. C. 


Medina, O., Nov. 10, 1892. 

I believe your Parliamentary Manual to be the most practical 
and comprehensive of anything 1 have seen.. Yours fraternally, 

MRS. E. J. GRAY, 

State Supt. Literature Dept. W. C. T. U. 


Western Christian Advocate. 

This is a successful effort to simplify Parliamentary Law by 
question and answer. At the receai W. C. T. U. Convention at 
Piqua, Ohio, 140 copies were sold, and it was heartily endorsed 
by the State Executive Committee. It is multuvi in paro. 


Chicago, III., Jan. 25, 1893. 

I do consider your little Manual admirable. You have put the 
whole so concisely and with such simplicity that I wish every 
union would use it. It would certainly tend to accuracy in all 
pur matings. Sincerely, 


ESTHER PUGH. 








A COMPENDIUM 


Question Book 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW 


Systematically Arranged for Ready RefeR' 
ENCE IN W. C. T. U. AND W. R. C. ORGAN¬ 
IZATIONS, Women’s Clubs, Normal 
Classes, Literary Circles, Mis¬ 
sionary Societies, and all 
Deliberative Bodies.'^ 

BY 

/ 

Lilian Cole Bethel. 


5 -^ 


Know for Thyself''' 


SECOND edition 




PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR “Si 
COLUMBUS, OHIO 

1893 


27747 A 







r 5/5 


, V 




T 


Entered, according to act of Coagress, in the year 1892, by 
MRS. LILIAN COLE BETHEL, 

In the office of Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 


ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 


PRESS OF 
HANN A ADAIR, 
COLUMBUS. 



TO 

u)omcn of Clmcnca rol^ose mtcriectual force anJx 
accompHsl^meuts entitle tt^em to be t^earb in tt^e 
arena of biscussion, tl^is little book is 
t]eartila bebicateb by tt^e autt^or. 




Prekace. 


S INCE woman has entered almost every field 
of honest labor, it may not be immodest 
for her to attempt a little service in the 
field where man has achieved distinction and 
Avielded his greatest power. Woman’s increas¬ 
ing activity in literary matters and great re¬ 
forms, which bring her continually before public 
meetings, obliges her to acquire a knowledge of 
parliamentary methods. One of her needs is 
self-confidence. Familiarity with the rules of 
public assemblies will aid her to that confidence. 
It has seemed to us that this little work may 
supply a want at this stage of woman’s advance¬ 
ment. 

The larger manuals are sufficient if rightly 
understood, but for many they need to be sim¬ 
plified. We have attempted to make the study 
and the mastery of Parliamentary Law easy for 
all. To simplify has been the aim. 

The author’s experience in giving public drills 
has taught her, that asking questions and giving 
brief answers is the method best adapted to get 
the most difficult points clearly before the mind. 
In the treatment of the different questions, we 



PREFACE, 


have carefully followed the order in which they 
stand on the chart, and of their precedence in 
usage. The book is so arranged as to be easy of 
reference in the busy moments of a public 
assembly by a little previous study. In its 
preparation we have consulted the works of 
Cushing, Roberts, Neely, Smith and others. 

L. 0. B. 


Index 


PAGE. 

Chart of INIottons in the Order of 

Their Precedence. 8 

Chart of Undebatable Questions. ... 9 

Chart Showing What Requires a 

Two-thirds Vote. 9 

Generad Definitions. 10 

Miscellaneous Questions. 11-15 

Organization . 16-17 

1. Organization and Order of Busi¬ 

ness. 16-17 

Duties of Officers.. 18-19 

2. President. 18 

3. Vice President. 18 

4. Recording Secretary. 18-19 

5. Corresponding Secretary. 19 

6. Treasurer. 19 

Privileged Motions. 20-23 

7. To Fix the Time to which to Ad¬ 

journ. 20 

8. Adjournment. 20 21 

9. Questions of Privilege. 21-22 

10. Orders of the Day.22-23 

Incidental Motions.24-26 

11. Appeals. 24-25 






















INDEX. 


PAGE. 

12. Objection to the Consideratioil of 

a Question. 25 

13. Reading of Papers. 25-26 

14. Withdrawal of a Motion. 26 

15. To Suspend the Rules. 26 

Subsidiary Motions .27-35 

16. To Lay on the Table . 27-28 

17. Previous Question. 28-30 

18. To Postpone to a Certain Day.. 30-31 

19. To Commit. 31 

20. Amendments. 32-34 

21. To Postpone Indefinitely. 34-35 

22. The Main Question. 35 

Miscellaneous .36-50 

23. To Reconsider. 36-38 

24. Voting on Questions. 38-40 

25. Minutes..... 40-41 

26. Election of Officers. 41-43 

27. Committees.44-47 

28. Committee of the Whole. 47-48 

29. Filling Blanks. 48-49 

30. Renewing a Motion. 49 

31. A Session. 49 

32. A Quorum. 50 

A Few Hints in Behalf of Public 

SPflAKERS...51-.*2 

























8 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 


Chart of Motiois in the Orher of their Precelence. 


PRIVILEGED MOTIONS. 

To the time to which to adjourn 
To adjourn 

Questions of privilege 
Orders of the day 

INCIDENTAL MOTIONS. 
Appeals 

Objections to considering the question 
The reading of papers 
Withdrawal of motions 
Suspension of rules 

SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS. 

To lay on the table 
The previous question 
To postpone to a certain day 
To commit {or recommit) 

To amend 

To postpone indefinitely^ 

PRINCIPAL MOTION OR MAIN QUESTION* 
To reconsider 






CHARTS, 


9 


Chart of Unhehatahle Qnestlons, 


To fix the time to which to adjourn {when a 
privileged motion) 

To adjourn 
Orders of the day 

Objection to the consideration of a question 
L,ay on the table or take from the table 
Suspend the rules 
Previous question 
Withdrawing a motion 
Reconsider {if the question is not debatable) 


Chart Showing What Rennires a Two-Thirds Yote. 


The previous question 
To make a special order 
To take out of proper order 
To amend the rules 
Shall the question be discussed? 
To suspend the rules 






10 


PARLIAMENTAKY LAW. 


GENERAL DEFINITIONS. 

1. What is meant by Privileged Motions ? 
Privileged Motions are such as take precedence 
of all other questions. 

2. What is meant by Incidental Motions? 
Incidental Motions are such as grow out of other 
questions, and must be disposed of before the 
questions which give rise to them. They yield 
to all Privileged Motions. 

3. What is meant by Subsidiary Motions? 
Subsidiary Motions are such as aid in the proper 
disposition of Main Questions without adopting 
or rejecting them, and must be decided before 
the principal question can be acted upon. They 
yield to Privileged and Incidental Motions. 

4. What is meant by A Principal Motion ? A 
Principal Motion is a motion to bring before the 
house a subject for consideration. 

5. What is meant by Precedence? By Pre¬ 
cedence is meant the superiority of one motion 
over another, which permits it to be presented 
when another motion is before the house. For 
instance, a motion of lower rank is pending, ac¬ 
tion on this must be suspended if a motion of 
higher rank is made. The lower in rank yields 
to the higher. 

6. What is meant by Quorum ? By Quorum 
is meant enough members present to transact 
business. 


MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS. 


11 


MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS. 

1. What is meant by Parliamentary Usages? 
Laws which govern deliberative assemblies. 

2. Where did we get Parliamentary Usages? 
From the British Parliament. 

3. How many members in the British Par¬ 
liaments There are in the House of Lords 
about 450 members. Business can be transacted 
if three members are present. There are in the 
House of Commons about 650 members, and 40 
constitute a quorum. 

4. How many members in the U. S. Congress ? 
There are 444, 1892. 

5. How many in the Senates 88. 

6. How many in the House of Representa¬ 
tives S 356. 

7. How many constitute a quorum S A ma¬ 
jority of either house. 

8. Who is President of the U, S. Senates 
The Vice President of the United States. 

9. 117m is Chcdrman of the U. S. House of 
Representatives S The Chairman is chosen by 
the House and is called the “Speaker.’’ 

10. Has the President of the Senate the same 
privilege as the Chairman of the HouseS No: 
he can vote only when there is a tie^ because he 
is not a member. 

11. How many U. S. Senators are there for 
each states Two. 


12 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 


12. How are they elected^ By the Legisla¬ 
ture of each State for a term of six years. 

13. Upon what basis are the U. S. Represen¬ 
tatives elected^ On the basis of one for every 
173,901 of the population. Census of 1890. 

14. What is the first thing to do in an assem¬ 
bly before a member can make a motion? 
Obtain the floor. 

16. How is this done? By rising and ad¬ 
dressing the Chair by saying, “Mrs. Chairman” 
or “Madame President,” as may seem best. 

16. Has the member the floor then? Not 
until recognized by the Chair. The Chair 
recognizes the member by calling her name. 

17. What are some of the common errors in 
addressing the Chair? “I move you,” “I move 
you now,” “I move the Chair,” “I do move 
you now,” “I do move,” and “I make a 
motion.” 

18. What is the correct way? Having ob¬ 
tained the floor, simply say, “/ move thatfi etc. 

19. What is next in order? State your 
motion in a voice that all can hear. 

20. What is then in order? Some one rises 
and addressing the Chair says, ‘ • I second the 
motion.” Do not say “ I sustain” or “ support 
the motion,” but “ I second,” etc. 

21. Is it necessary for the one who seconds a 
motion to wait to be recognized by the Chair? 
No. 

22. The motion made and seconded^ what 


MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS. 


13 


next ? It should be stated by the Chair before it 
is debated, or put to vote. 

23. The motion being 'properly stated by the 
Chair^ what is next in order f If it is a debat¬ 
able question, the Chair will call for remarks. 
If it is an uudebatable question, the Chair will 
put the question at once. 

24. Should questions be debated without a 
motion‘d Ko: all business should be intro¬ 
duced by a motion. It is very wrong to dissi¬ 
pate the time in needless discussion when there 
is no motion before the house. When a ques¬ 
tion is properly before the house, it may be de- 

* bated. A member must obtain the floor for de¬ 
bate in the same manner she would secure it to 
make a motion. 

25. The Chair should give the floor to the 
member whose voice she first hears, if two or 
more address the Chair at the same time. 

26. Can a member make a motion while an¬ 
other has the floor f Xo. 

27. How many times can a person speak to a 

question^ Only once, until all who desire to 
speak have spoken. ’ 

28. The call of “Question’’ does not compel 
the Chair to take the vote if there are others who 
desire to speak to the question. 

29. After the floor has been assigned to a 
member she cannot be interrupted by a call for 
the ‘‘Question,” or by a motion to adjourn, or 
for any purpose by either the Chair or any mem- 


14 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 


ber, if she is in order, except to have entered on 
the minutes “ a motion to reconsider,’^ and ex¬ 
cept “a call for the orders of the day,” or “a 
question of privilege.” 

30. It is customary at the beginning of a 
session to limit the time of a speaker. The time 
may afterwards be extended by consent or by a 
unanimous vote of the assembly. 

31. Can a maker of a motion vote against her 
ownmotionf Yes; but she cannot speak against it. 

32. The Chair in giving her decision should 
say, “The Chair decides” so and so, and not 
say, “I decide.” 

33. The Secretary should stand while read¬ 
ing minutes, etc. 

34. What is meant by ‘^Questions of Privi¬ 
lege f'* Privileges and rights of the members 
of the assembly. 

35 What are the rights and privileges of de¬ 
bate'} The leader has the right to open and 
close the debate. If it is a paper under discus¬ 
sion, the author of it should have the right to 
open and close the discussion. 

36 What is meant by a Mayority^' vote} 
It is more than half of the whole number of 
votes cast, or it is the excess of votes received 
by the successful candidate over the sum of all 
the votes cast for competing candidates. 

37. Whal is meant by a '■'‘Plurality^' of 
votes } It is the excess of votes received by the 
successful candidate over those cast for the com- 


MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS. 


15 


peting candidate having the next highest num¬ 
ber of votes. 

38. Can an election to office once decided be 
reconsidered^^ No. 

39. When is a meeting properly adjourned f 
Not until a vote has been taken, and the result 
announced by the Chair. 

40. What is the difference between '‘'■Privi¬ 
leged Motions^' and "Questions of Privilege’’"? 
See pages 20 and 21. 

41. What should be done if the Chair refuses 
to put a motion properly made ? See appeals,, 
page 24. Also “Life of John Quincy Adams,” 
by W. H. Seward, page 297. 

42. Is the Chair compelled to vote? No. 

43. A member who yields the floor loses the 
right to it, until the rest have spoken. 

44. When anyone having the floor is inter- 
rupted she does not lose the right to the floor, 
but may resume it when that which interrupted 
her is settled. 

45. What vote does it take to expunge from 
the minutes? A unanimous vote. For in¬ 
stance, action has been taken reflecting on some 
member, and it is afterwards desired to expunge 
it from the minutes. This cannot be done if 
one votes against it. The action must stand; 

46. Can a vote by ballot be reconsidered? 
No; but it can be thrown out if found irregular. 


16 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 


ORGANIZATION. 

1 —1. When a society is to be organized a 
meeting is called. At the time appointed, some 
person will rise and say: “ The house will please 
come to order.’’ She then calls for nominations 
for Temporary Chairman. A name or names 
are offered and voted on. If no one receives a 
majority of votes, the vote is again taken until 
one is elected. When elected she at once takes 
tlie chair, and proceeds in the same manner to 
complete the temporary organization. When 
this is done she states the object of the meeting 
or calls upon some one to do so. 

2. Tt is generally unnecessary in the tempor¬ 
ary organization to have any officers except 
Chairman and Secretary. 

3. The next thing in order is to appoint com¬ 
mittees. Such as a committee on “Permanent 
Organization,” acommittee on “Platform” or 
“ Constitution,” and a committee on “ Creden¬ 
tials,” etc. 

4. The temporary organization rhay be made 
the permanent organization, or another set of 
officers may be elected. 

5. As soon as the committee on Permanent 
Organization has reported, and the vote is taken, 
the permanent officers should take their respec¬ 
tive places. 

6. If the organization is auxiliary.to some 


ORGANIZATION. 


17 


other society it adopts the Constitution and 
By-Laws of such society 

7. The Constitution should specify the object 
of the society, the qualifications of members, 
duties of officers and their elections. The By- 
Laws should contain such matters of import¬ 
ance as time of meeting, place, etc. 

8. To amend the Constitution and By-Laws 
requires previous notice, and a tivo~thirds vote. 

9. In a large assembly it is necessary some¬ 
times to appoint a Sergeant-at-Arms to assist in 
maintaining order and enforcing the rules. 

10. Also, Pages are appointed to wait on the 
members, distribute blanks, carry messages, etc. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS. 

Opening exercises 
Reading of minutes 
Unfinished business 
Reports of committees 
New business 
Miscellaneous business 
Adjournment 


18 


PARLIAMENTAIIY LAW, 


DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 

2. President.—1. It is the duty of the Presi¬ 
dent to preside at the meetings, to announce 
the business, to preserve order, to put motions 
to vote, and to announce the result. Also, to 
see that the rules of the body and of parlia¬ 
mentary usage are observed. 

2. If she wishes to vacate the chair for a time 
she may appoint some one as Chairman pro tern. 

3. The Chairman cannot make or second 
motions. 

3. Vice President.—1. It is the duty of the 
Vice President to preside in the absence of the 
President. She has all the powers and responsi¬ 
bilities of the President while she is in the chair. 

2. In the absence of the President and Vice 
President a Chairman ^?ro tan is elected. 

4. Recording Secretary,—1. The duty of the 
Recording Secretary is to keep a record of the 
proceedings of the meeting, which record is 
called the minutes. The Secretary should keep 
such a record as will enable any intelligent 
person to understand fully the nature and 
doings of the meeting. 

2. She should record in the minutes all prin¬ 
cipal motions whether carried or lost, unless 
otherwise instructed. It is often as important 
to know what measures were introduced and 
lost as what measures were carried. 


DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 


19 


3. In the absence of the presiding officers the 
Secretary should call the meeting to order and 
have a Chairman pro tern elected. 

4. It is the du ty of the Eecording Secretary 
to read papers, etc., that are called up, to call 
the roll, and note those abseut, to call the roll 
when the yeas and nays are taken, to notify 
committees of their appointment and the busi¬ 
ness referred to them. 

5. She has the custody of all papers and official 
documents belonging to the society, unless some 
other person is designated for that purpose. 

5. Corresponding Secretary.— 1. It is the 
duty of the Corresponding Secretary to do the 
corresponding for the society, such as sending 
out blanks for reports, etc. 

6. Treasurer.—1. The duty of the Treasurer 
is to hold all money, and keep accurate account 
of all receipts and expenditures of money, and 
report the same to the society. 

2. She should pay out money only on the 
order of the society, signed by the President and 
Secretary, being careful to secure a receipt for 
the same. 

3. All money should pass through the Treas¬ 
urer’s hands. 

4. Where there are dues the Treasurer should 
collect them; and, except where there is a 
Financial Committee, she should devise ways 
and means to increase the funds of the society. 


20 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 


PRIVILEGED MOTIONS. 

These divisions are treated in the order in 
which they appear on the chart page. 

7. To Fix the Time to which to Adjourn — 

1. What motion is the highest in rank f To 
fix the time to which to adjourn is the highest 
in rank, and takes precedence of all other 
motions. 

2. What is the object f The object is to de- 
termine when the meeting shall again convene. 

3. What is the form f The form is, “I move 
that when we adjourn, we adjourn to meet, ’^ 
stating the time. 

4. When can this motion he made ? It may 
be made at any time, even after the vote has. 
been taken to adjourn, if the vote on tlie mo¬ 
tion to adjourn has not been announced by the 
Chair. 

5. Can it be debated f If made when a ques¬ 
tion is before the house it is midebaiable. If 
there is no question before the house it becomes 
a Principal Motion and can be debated. 

6. Can it be amended f Only as to changing 
the time. 

7. Can it be reconsidered f Yes. 

8. What vote does it take to carry iC? A 
majority. 

8. Adjournment.— When is the motion to ad- 
journreot in oi'der^ While a member has the 


PRIVILEGED MOTIONS. 21 

floor, while the yeas and nays are being called, 
while the members are voting on any question, 
or when the Previous Question has been called 
or is still pending * 

2. What is the form f “I move that we do 
now adjourn.” 

3. What is its relation to other Questions'? 
The motion to adjourn (when unqualified) takes 
l)recedence of all other questioiis except “ To fix 
the time to which to adjourn.” 

4. Is it debatable f The unqualified motion 
to adjourn is not debatable, but when qualified 
it loses its privileged character, and stands as 
any other principal motion. 

5. Can it be amended? No: neither can it 
have any other subsidiary motion applied to it, 
nor can it be reconsidered. 

6. When can it be renewed? It cannot be 
renewed until some business has been trans¬ 
acted, or some one has spoken. 

7. What vote is necessary to adjourn? A 
majority. 

9. Questions of Privilege.—1. What is meant 
by '■'‘Questions of Privilege'’^ ? Privileges and 
rights of members of an assembly. For in¬ 
stance, something needs immediate attention, 
such as the reading or the sending of telegrams, 
or making an inquiry concerning a person who 
is M'anted, etc., which may be done even while 
a member is speaking. 

2. What is the form? The form is, “I rise 


22 


PAKLIAMENTARY RAW. 


to a question of privilege; ” the Chair will then 
say, “ State your question.” After the question 
is stated the Chair decides Whether or not it be 
a Question of Privilege ; which decision is sub¬ 
ject to an appeal. 

3. Must it he disposed of at oncef Final 
action on it need not be taken at once It may 
be disposed of by placing on the table, by re¬ 
ferring to a committee, or it may have any other 
subsidiary* motion applied to it After it has 
been acted upon the meeting proceeds with the 
interrupted business. 

10. Orders of the Day.—1. What is meant 
h\j the Orders of the Day" 9 When one or more 
subjects have been assigned to a certain day 
or hour they become the “Orders of the 
Day.” 

2. Hoiv may the Orders of the Day be called ? 
When the time arrives for the Orders of the 
Day any one may call for them, and if no one 
objects they are taken up at once. But if an 
objection is made the Chair -will say, “ Shall the 
Orders be taken up,” and a vote is then taken. 
If the vote is in the affirmative the current busi¬ 
ness is suspended, and the program adhered to. 
If the vote is in the negative the Orders of the 
Day are postponed only until the business 
before the meeting is transacted. 

3. Hoiv are the Orders of the Day classified ? 
They are General and Special. General Orders 
can be called by a majority. To make a Special 


PRIVILEGED MOTIONS. 23 

Order, or to take out of order, requires a two- 
thirds vote. 

4. To what do the Orders of the Day yield f 
When the hour arrives for the Orders assigned 
they take precedence of everything except, “ To 
fix the time to which to adjourn,” “To ad¬ 
journ,” “ Questions of Privilege,” and “To re¬ 
consider.” To these they yield. 

5. Can a call for the Orders of the Day be 
debated ? It cannot, nor does it require ' a 
second. 


24 PARLiAMENTAKY LAW. 


INCIDENTAL MOTIONS. 

11. Appeals. —1. What is meant by Appeal? 
If a member notices anything in the procedure 
of the meeting which she thinks is out of order, 
or some one is not speaking to the question, she, 
addressing the Chair, may s iy, “ I rise to a point 
of order.” The person called to order will be 
seated, and the Chair will say, “ State your point 
of order,” which she does, and the Chair decides 
whether the point is, or is not, well taken. If a 
member is not satisfied with the decision of the 
Chair, she may rise and say, “ I appeal from the 
decision of the Chair.” This being seconded, 
the Chair gives her reason for her decision, and 
says, “ Shall the decision of the Chair be sustain¬ 
ed?” If a majority vote in the affirmative the 
Chair is sustained. If the vote is a tie the Chair 
is sustained, since, in a tie the Chair can vote. 

2. What should be done if the Chair refuses 
to put a motion properly made? Anyone can 
‘‘ appeal ” to the house, the Chair having decid¬ 
ed against the motion by refusing to put it. If 
the Chair refuses to put the appeal to vote, the 
person appealing may put it herself. See Mis¬ 
cellaneous Questions No. 41, page 15. Or the 
body may declare the Chair vacant and elect an¬ 
other Chairman. 

3. To lohat do appeals yield? To all “ Privi¬ 
leged Questions.” 


INCIDENTAL MOTIONS. 25 

4. Can an appeal he reconsidered f Yes. 

6. Is an appeal debatable f Yes; if it does not 
relate to indecorum, or violation of the rules of 
speaking, or if the previous question was not 
pending at the time the appeal was made. 

12. Objection to the Consideration of a Ques¬ 
tion. 1. If a motion is made that is unprofit¬ 
able and out of place, ivhat can be done ? Ob¬ 
tain the floor as soon as the question is intro¬ 
duced, and say, ‘‘ I object to the consideration 
of the question.’’ This objection does not re¬ 
quire a second, and the Chair will at once say, 
“ Will the assembly consider the question ?” If 
there is a two-thirds negative vote the question 
is dismissed and cannot be brought up again 
during that session. 

2. When can an objection be made ? It must 
be made before the question has been debated. 

3. Can an objection be amended or debated ? 
No ; nor can it have any subsidiary motion ap¬ 
plied to it. 

4. Why should objections be made ? To keep 
out of the meeting any improper or unprofitable 
questions, and to prevent their being debated. 

13. Reading of Papers—1. How often 
should a paper be read before a vote I Each and 
every member has the right to hear a paper 
read before voting upon it. 

2. What is the duty of the Chair f When a 
member asks for the reading of any paper for in¬ 
formation the Chair shall direct it to be read, if 


26 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 


there are no objections. If any one objects to 
the call for the reading, the objection shall be 
put to vote without debate or amendment. 

14. Withdrawal of a Motion.— 1. When a 
motion has been made and the mover does not 
leant it to go to vote, ivhat can she do ? With¬ 
draw it with the consent of the second, if it has 
not been stated by the Chair. If it has been 
stated by the Chair, it cannot be withdrawn 
without consent of the members. If any one 
objects it must either go before the house to be 
voted upon, or a motion must be made to with¬ 
draw it, which motion cannot be debated or 
amended. 

15. To Suspend the Rules.—1. Why are the 

rules sometimes suspended^ Because the 
adopted rules of a body frequently interfere 
with the speedy transaction of business. 

2. What is the form ^ The form is, “I move 

to suspend the rule, which interferes with- 

stating the object. 

3. What vote does it take to suspend the 
Buies f A two-thirds vote. 

4. Can it be amended? It cannot be amended, 
neither debated, nor have any subsidiary motion 
applied to it. It cannot be reconsidered. 

5. Can a motion to Suspend, the Buies for a 
certain purpose be renewed, at the same meet¬ 
ing? No ; but such a motion may be made 
after adjournment in the next meeting, although 
the meeting be held the same day. 


SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS.. 27 


SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS. 

16. To Lay on the Table.—1. What is the 
object oj the motion to Lay on the Tabled The 
object of this motion is to postpone the subject 
ill such a way that at auy time later it can be 
considered. It is often used to suppress a ques¬ 
tion. 

2. What is theformf The form is, “ I move 
the qutstion be laid on the table.'' 

3. What is its rank f The motion to Lay on 
the Table takes precedence of all other Sudsidi- 
ary Questions, but yields to Incidental and Priv- 
il' ged Questions. 

4. What motions to Lay on the Table do^ or 

do not, effect the Main Question f (a) A ques¬ 
tion being laid on the table carries with it all 
pertaining to it. As, should an amendment be 
laid on the table it carries with it all it proposes 
to amend. Exceptions : (b) An appeal being 

laid on the table sustains the Chair, and does 
not carry with it the original question. 

(c) An amendment to the minutes being laid 
on the table does not carry the minutes with it. 

(d) A motion to reconsider being laid on 
the table does not carry with it the original mo¬ 
tion. (e) The previous question beir.g called, 
and laid on the table does not carry with it the 
main motion. 

5. Why sometimes lay the Previous Question 


28 PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 

on the table ? So that the Main Question may 
be further debated. 

6. Iloiu far does the right “ To lay on the 
table'' extendf Though the Previous Question 
may have been ordered, and tlie moment has 
arrived to vote on the Main Question, the Main 
Question may be laid on the table. 

7. Can it be debated"^ The motion to “Lay 
on the table,’’ or “ Take from the table,” is uu- 
debatable, and takes a majority vote to carry it. 

8. Can it be amended ? No. 

9. When a 7notion carries to '■'‘lay on the 
table^" luhat becomes of the question under con¬ 
sideration f It removes the question from dis¬ 
cussion until the assembly vote to take it “ from 
the table.” 

10. Can an affirmative vote to '■'■lay on the 
table" be reconsidered? No. 

11. Who can 7nove to "■ take from the table?" 
One who has voted in the affirmative. If one 
is quite certain that the measure she is advocat¬ 
ing will be “laid on the table” she can vote for 
it, so that she may have the privilege of moving 
to take it from the table. 

17. Previous Question.—1. What is meant 
by the Previous Question? It is a motion to cut 
off debate on the question before the house, and 
bring it to a vote at once. 

2. What is the form? The form is, “I move 
the previous question.” After it has been 


SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS. 


29 


seconded, the Chair will say, “ Shall the main 
question be now put?’' “ All in favor,” 
etc. 

3. What vote does it take f If there is a two- 
thirds vote in the affirmative, the question is 
put at once; but if the previous question does 
not carry, the question is still open for discus¬ 
sion ; also, if the Previous Question is laid on 
the table, the question before the house can be 
debated. 

4. When there is a question before the house 
ivith amendments^ and the Previous Question is 
called^ what is the order of procedure ? In this 
case the vote must be taken at once on the 
question, beginning first with the amend¬ 
ments. 

5. What should he done if the Previous Ques¬ 
tion is called on an amendment f Simply vote 
on the amendment. This leaves the Main 
Question still open for debate. 

6. Can a person submit a resolution^ and at 
the same time move the Previous Question f 
Yes; but this is not often done. 

7. What is its rank f The Previous Question 
takes precedence of all debatable questions, but 
yields to all Privileged and Incidental Ques¬ 
tions, and to the Motion to Lay on the Table. 

8. Can it be amended ? No. 

9. Can it be reconsidered f No. 

10. Can it be debated f This motion to close 


30 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 


debate may be debated for a limited time, but 
the debate must be couftned strictly to the 
reasons why, or why not, the Main Question 
should or should not be put. The Main Ques¬ 
tion cannot be debated while the Previous Ques¬ 
tion is pending. 

11. The Previous Question to man^’- is con¬ 
fusing. Some are apt to think that it has refer¬ 
ence to the question bejot'c the one under dis¬ 
cussion ; but it simplj'^ means that the debate 
now close, and the vote be taken on the last ques¬ 
tion before the house. The Previous Question 
when called applies to the whole question unless 
otherwise specified. If a committee has re¬ 
ported the Main Question, the chairman of the 
committee can close the debate even after the 
Previous Question has been ordered. 

18. To Postpone to a Certain Day or to a 
Certain Time. - 1. If a question arises which it 
is ’preferred not to decide at once, what may be 
donef A motion may be made to postpone it to 
a certain day and hour. 

2. What is the form f The form is, “I move 

to postpone-to-day and hour,” nam¬ 

ing the question and day and hour. 

3. When there are two or more questionsp)ost- 
poned, ivhat is the order of considering them f 
They should be taken up in the order in which 
they were postponed, even though they were 
not taken up at the time appointed. 

4. Can a motion to suspend to a certain day 



SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS 


31 


or time he debated f Only as to the jiropriety of 
postponing it. 

5. Can it be amended^ Only as to time. 

6. To what does it yield f It yields to Privi¬ 
leged and Incidental Questions, the motion to 
Lay on the Table, and the Previous Question ; 
but it takes precedence of a motion to commit or 
amend, or indefinitely postpone. 

7. After the time to consider a question has 
been fixed, by j^ostponement can it be called up 
out of order ? Only by a two-thirds vote. 

8. When the time arrives for the ejuestion to 
be taken up what should be donef Some one 
should call for it. Everything else yields to it 
then, except Privileged Questions. 

9. This motion to postpone to a certain day 
can often be used to advantage. It should be 
preferred many times to the motion “ to la 3 ^ on 
the table.” The latter frequently, and prema¬ 
turely, disposes of a question, when it would 
have been better to fix a time in the future for 
its consideration. 

19. To Commit. —1. What is meant by Coyn- 
mit ? By Commit is meant to transfer certain 
business to a smaller body called a committee. 

2. What is the form? “I move to refer the 
subject (naming the subject) to a committee.” 

3. Can it be amended? Yes. 

4. Can it be debated? Yes. 

5. What is meant by Recommit? It is to 
refer the subject back to the committee. 


32 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 


6. What vote does it take f A majority. 

20. Amendments.—1. If a motion 4s made 
and is not satisfactory^ what can be done^ It 
can be amended. 

2. To what extent may a question be amended^ 
It may be amended so as to modify the meaning, 
or so as to change the meaning entirely. But 
an amendment must be germane to the ques¬ 
tion. 

3. What is the form f “I move to amend,” 
“I move to strike out,” or “I move to substi¬ 
tute.” 

4. What are some of the tuays of amending a 
question^ By “adding” or “inserting,” by 
“striking out,” or by “substituting” one mo¬ 
tion or resolution for another. 

5. How many amendments may le enter¬ 
tained to a question at the same time? There 
may be two only. An amendment to the ques¬ 
tion, and an amendment to the amendment. 

6. How many votes does it take to carry a 
question with two amendments? Four. Four 
separate votes are necessary. 

7. Which should be voted on first? The 
amendment to the amendment, then the amend¬ 
ment as amended, then to amend the original 
motion, then the original motion as amended. 

8. If the second amendment carries^ and the 
first amendment loses^ tvhat is the result ? Only 
the original motion is left. 

9. If the second amendment loses and the 


SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS. 


33 


first amendment carries^ ivhat is the result f The 
question with the first amendment remains. 

10. An amendment laid on the table has what 
effect on the quest ion f An amendment laid on 
the table carries with it all it proposes to 
amend; except, an amendment to the minutes 
being laid on the table does not carry the min¬ 
utes with it. 

11. Can a mover of a question offer an 
amendment to it ? Yes: she has the same priv¬ 
ilege as any other member, excepting to speak 
against her own motion. 

12. Should the Chair ask the maker of a mo¬ 
tion to accept an amendment? No: not if it 
changes the question; but if it is simply some 
little change of the form of the question that 
does not affect its sense, she may make such a 
request. Some are often embarrassed by the 
Chair asking this question. 

13. If there is a question with an amendment 
hffore the house and the Previous Question is 
called for ^ ivhat is meant ? It is meant to close 
the debate, and bring the question before the 
house to a vote. 

14. If the Previous Question is called on an 
amendment, what is meant f It means that the 
vote on the amendment be taken at once, but 
the original question is yet open for debate. 

15. What vote does it take to amend ? A 
majority, except, to amend the Constitution, or 
By-Laws, or the Rules of Order. These require 


84 


parliamentary law. 


previous notice and a two-thirds vote for their 
adoption. 

16. To what does the motion to amend yield f 
The motion to amend yields to all Privileged, 
Incidental, and Subsidiary motions, except to 
Postpone Indefinitely. 

17. The following is a list of motions which 
cannot be amended : To adjourji (when unqual¬ 
ified), to Lay on the Table, to Postpone Indefi¬ 
nitely, an Amendment to an Amendment, the 
Orders of the Day, all Incidental Questions, the 
Previous Question, and to Reconsider. 

21. To Postpone Indefinitely. —1. What is 
the object of postponing a question indefinitely ? 
To remove the question from the assembly for 
that session. It is one w'ay of disposing of a 
question. 

2. IP hat is the form ? “I move the question 
be postponed indefinitely. 

3. What is its rankf It is the lowest in 
rank (except the principal motion), and yields 
to all Priviledged, Incidental, and Subsidiary 
motions, except the motion to Amend. 

4. How is it effected by the Previous Ques¬ 
tion^ If the Previous Question is called on it, 
the motion to postpone only is effected, and the 
Main Question remains before the assembly. 

5. Can it be debated'? Yes; and when it is 
moved it opens to debate the entire question 
which it proposes to postpone. 


SUBSIDIARY MOTIOKS. 


35 


6. What vote does it take to postpone indefi¬ 
nitely'^ A majority. 

7. Can it be reconsidered or amended? No. 

22. The Main Question. —1. What is meant 

by the Principal or Original Motion? By this 
is meaut those motions or questions introduced 
for consideration when no other business is be¬ 
fore the house. 

2. Can a Principal Motion be made when an¬ 
other motion is before the house ? No. 

3. When does a question belong to the house 
for debate? Not until it is seconded and stated 
by the Chair. 

4. The Chair can call that motions or resolu¬ 
tions shall be submitted in writing. 


86 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

. 23. Reconsider.—1. When a vote has been 
taken, and is not satisfactory, zchat mayjbe done f 
A motion to reconsider the vote may be made. 

2. Why reconsider 9 So as to bring the ques¬ 
tion before the house again. 

3. How does this effect the question ? When 
a vote is reconsidered the motion stands just 
as it did before the vote was taken. 

4. Who can move to reconsider a vote 9 One 
who has voted on the prevailing side. The pre¬ 
vailing side is not necessarily the affirmative. 
If the motion has been defeated the negative is 
the prevailing side. 

5. How may the Chair know that the person 
moving to reconsider voted on the prevailing side9 
If the yeas and nays have been taken the record 
will show it. If it has been a viva voce vote, the 
Chair may ask the mover if she voted on the 
prevailing side. 

6. Can all votes be reconsidered9 !No. To 
Adjourn, to Suspend the Rules, to Take from 
the Table, an affirmative vote to Lay on the 
Table, a vote by ballot, and elections cannot be 
reconsidered. 

7. Can a question with amendments, which has 
been carried or lost, he reconsidered9 Yes; by 
first reconsidering the vote on original question, 
then the vote on the amendments. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


37 


8. How many times can a question be recon¬ 
sidered^ But once. 

9. Is the motion to reconsider debatable"^ It 
is or is not debatable, just as the question pro¬ 
posed to be reconsidered is or is not debatable. 
If debatable it opens up the entire subject 
for debate which it proposes to reconsider. 

10. Can a motion to reconsider be made at 
any time during the meeting ? The common rule 
is that a motion to reconsider must be made 
the same day or the day following that on 
which the question came before the house for a 
vote. 

11. Can the motion to reconsider be made if 
there is other business before the house‘s Yes; 
but it cannot be acted upon at that time. It 
must be entered on the minutes and can be 
called up at any time. If taken up immediately 
after the business which was before the house 
when it was made, is disposed of, it takes pre¬ 
cedence of everything, except a motion to Ad¬ 
journ, and to Fix the Time to which to Ad¬ 
journ. 

12. If a motion to reconsider be laid on the 
table^ how is the Main Question effected f If the 
motion to reconsider is tabled, the Main Ques¬ 
tion cannot be reconsidered unless the motion to 
reconsider is.taken from the table by a majority 
vote. 

13. Can the Previous Question be called on a 
motion to reconsiderf Yes; but it effects only 


38 


PARLIAMENTAKY LAW. 


the motion to reconsider, and leaves the JNIain 
Question imtouched. 

14. To what does the motion to reconsider 
yield ? It yields to all lucideutal Motions, and 
Privileged Questions, except the Orders of the 
Day. See question 11. 

15. Can it be amended f No. 

16. What vote does it take to reconsider f A 
majority. 

17. Sometimes it is better for one to change 
her vote aud vote on the prevailing side, so that 
later she may move to reconsider the vote. 

24 'Voting on Questions —1. What are some 
of the forms of voting f By voice, by showing 
hands, by rising, and by ballot. 

2. What is the usued form f By voice. The 
Chair Avill say : “You have heard the motion, 
as many as are in favor will say aye : those op¬ 
posed Avill say no.’’ The Chair will then an¬ 
nounce the result. 

3. What can be done if the vote is uncertain f 
Any member can call for a Division. The Chair 
wull say : “A Division is called for; all in favor 
of the motion stand and be counted.” The Sec¬ 
retary will count those standing. The Chair 
wall then say: “All opposed, stand and be 
counted;” and she Avill announce the result 
after the count is made. 

4. Should the Chair always call for the nega¬ 
tive vote f Yes; unless she knows the vote to 
be unanimous. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


39 


5. Can a maker of a motion vote against 
Yes; but she cauuot speak against her own 
motion. 

' 6. May a member change her vote'^ Yes: at 
any time before the decision of a vole is an¬ 
nounced by the Chair, if her vote was not cast 
by ballot. 

7. What is the'privilege of debate as relates 
to voting f Although the aflirmative vote has 
been taken, and until the negative is put, a mem¬ 
ber is entitled to the floor (though she may have 
at that moment entered the room), and she may 
open up the debate on the question j ust as if vot¬ 
ing had not begun. After the debate is closed 
the vote on the affirmative must be taken over. 
Also, after the final vote has been announced 
by the Chair, if it is found a member has tried 
to obtain the floor before the Chair had put the 
negative side, she shall be heard on the ques¬ 
tion as though no vote had been taken. Then 
the vote must be taken over. 

8. Can a person vote on a question effecting 
herself^ If the question effects herself only^ she 
cannot vote, but if it relates to several in the 
same body, she may vote with the rest. 

9. When may the Chair votef When there 
is a tie, when her vote will make a tie, when the 
yeas and nays are called, and when the vote is 
by ballot. 

10. When there is a tie whrxt becomes of the 
question} It is lost, unless the Chair votes. 


40 


PAKLIAMENTAKY LAW. 


which vote carries it. She would not vote in 
the negative, since the measure is already lost. 

11. When the vote of the Chair will make a 
tie she can cast it, and thus defeat a measure. 

12. If the vote is by ballot when does the 
Chair vote ? She writes her ballot and casts it 
with the rest. 

13. When the yeas and nays are called^ in 
what order does the Chair vote ? She votes last, 
so as not to influence others voting. 

14. What is meant by the yeas and nays^ A 
call for the yeas and nays requires that the vote 
of each member be recorded. 

15. What is the form‘d “I move the yeas 
and nays.” If the motion carries by a majority 
vote the Chair will say, “The yeas and nays 
have been ordered ; as * the names are called 
those in favor of the adoption of the resolution 
will say aye, those opposed will say no.” The 
Secretary then calls the roll, each member 
answering aye, or no, which vote is recorded, 
After all have voted the Secretary will give the 
number voting on each side, and the result is 
announced by the Chair. 

25. Minutes. — 1. Is it necessary to vote on 
the minutes? No: after the reading of the 
minutes the Chair will say, “ Are there any cor¬ 
rections?” If there are any, they are made at 
once. The Chair will say, “ If there are no 
objections to the minutes they stand ap^ 
proved,” • 


IVUSCELLANEOUS. 


41 


2. Should amendments to the minutes he 
voted on f Yes. 

3. After the commencement of the roll call 
it is too late to be excused from voting. 

26. Election of Officers.—1. How may offi¬ 
cers be elected f By ballot or by acclamation. 

2. What is the Chair's first duty in the elec¬ 
tion ofi oficers'^ She shall ask, “How shall the 
election be held?,” (unless some rule has been 
adopted by the society). Some one may move 
that they be elected by ballot, with nominations 
in open convention, or by acclamation. 

3. When electing by ballot, what is the first 
thing in orderf The Chair will'appoint “tel¬ 
lers,” who distribute through the convention 
slips of paper for balloting. 

4. In what way may nominations be made f 
By the Informal Ballot, by nominating in open 
convention, or by a nominating committee. 

5. What is meant by the Informal Ballots 
When in the interest of fairness, secret nomina¬ 
tions are desired, each person may write the 
name of her favorite candidate upon a slip of 
paper. When these are collected, they are called 
the Informal Ballot, because the formality of 
naming the person through a committee or in 
open session is not observed. Each person 
voted for in this way is a nominee. If none 
receives a majority on the informal ballot, the 
formal ballot is taken until one does receive a 


42 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 


majority of all votes cast. This is frequently the 
most satisfactory way of making nominations. 

6. Can one be elected on the Informal Ballot f 
No: the Informal Ballot is only one ballot taken 
for nominations. But if in this first ballot one 
candidate receives a majority of all votes cast, it 
is then in order to move “ that the informal be 
made the formal, and that the secretary cast the 
ballot.” The presiding officer should state the 
motion and put it to vote in the usual way. 
If this motion is lost the formal ballot must be 
taken. 

7. If the nominations are in open convention^ 
and the vote is to be by ballot^ how should 
the assembly proceed f Some one or more 
will nominate candidates whose names 
will l)e voted on. (These nominations need 
no second). The tellers proceed to collect 
and count the ballots. The tellers will 
give the number of votes to which the conven¬ 
tion is entitled, and next the whole number of 
votes cast, and the number necessary to elect, 
then the number each candidate received be¬ 
ginning with the highest. 

8. What vote does it take to elect f A major 
ity of all votes cast. If no one receives a major¬ 
ity it is necessary to ballot again. 

9. What is the next step? The tellers will 
read each ballot aloud, and two or more will 
keep the record. The result will be announced 
by the Chair, 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


43 


10. WJiat may be clone if there is but one can- 
didate^ and the constitution requires voting by 
bcdlot f Some one may move that the Secre¬ 
tary cast the ballot for the assembly. The Sec¬ 
retary will say, “I hereby cast the ballot 

for Mrs.-.” If any object she must be voted 

for by the usual ballot. 

11. How proceed with election by acclama¬ 
tion f If there are several nominees, the Chair 
will announce each name as she hears it, and 
when the nominations close they should be 
voted upon in the order given, until one is 
elected. 

12. What requires a unanimous votef To 
expunge from the minutes (see Miscellaneous 
Questions, No. 46), and to declare a vote unan¬ 
imous which is not. For instance a number 
have been voted for,.and one receives the num¬ 
ber of votes necessary to elect, a bare majority, 
and some one moves the election be declared 
unanimous. If all vote to declare'it unanimous 
it is so recorded. But this is only done through 
courtesy, and is often unfair to the other candi¬ 
dates. 

13. Sometimes a nominating committee is 
appointed for the selection of candidates. This 
method is generally unsatisfactory, since a com¬ 
mittee often reports but one set of names. It 
gives none others a chance, and is virtually 
electing the officers by a committee. 

14. What vote does it take to change the Con- 


44 


PARLIAMENTARY LAW. 


stitution ? A two-thirds vote and previous notice. 

27. Committees.—1. Jiow may Committees 
be nominated f They may be nominated in open 
convention or by a Special Committee. 

2. Hoiv may they be appointed f By the 
Chair. 

3. How may they be elected^ By acclama¬ 
tion, or by ballot. 

4. What is the formf The Chair will say, 
“ How shall this Committee be appointed ?” A 
member will either move that the Cliair appoint, 
or that the Committee be nominated and voted 
for. When this motion is disposed of the Chair 
will say, “How many shall constitute this 
Committee?’’ and if there are several numbers 
given the vote shall be taken on the highest 
number first, etc., until, by a majority vote, a 
number is chosen. 

5. Has the Chair a right to appoint Commit¬ 
tees^ merely upon the suggestion of some member^ 
“ that the Chair appoint No: there must be 
a motion to that effect, and if it is carried, the 
Chair will appoint. 

6. Is it best always to allow the Chair to ap¬ 
point Committees^ No: if there be an Investi¬ 
gating Committee, or some Committee of great 
importance, and the appointing is left in the 
hands of the Chair, she may ]mt on that Com¬ 
mittee only those who think as she does, 
while the views of others should be represented. 

7. Jlcts one person the right to nominate rrior^ 


MISCELLANEOUS. 45 

ihan one on a Committee f No; everyone 
should have the same right to nominate. 

8. Who is Chairman of the Committee’^ The 
first one named is Temporary Chairman, whose 
business it is to obtain a list of the Committee, 
appoint a place, and state the time, and make 
tlie preliminary arrangements for a meeting. 

9. 'What constitutes a Quorum in a Commit¬ 
tee ? A majority. 

10. What is the first thing to do in the meet¬ 
ing ? The Temporary Chairman will call the 
meeting to order. A Secretary will first be 
elected, and then a Chairman. The Temporary 
Chairman may be made Permanent Chairman, 
if it is so desired. 

11. How should the business of the Commit¬ 
tee be conducted ? The same as in large 
bodies. 

12. How should Committees adjourn^ When 
the business assigned it is completed a motion 
is made for the Committee “ to rise,’' and some 
one is named to make the report to the assem¬ 
bly. Only what a majority agree to can be the 
report of the Committee. 

13. When can the report of a Committee be 
made'? The report of a Committee can be 
made at any time if there is no business before 
the house, no special time having been set for 
the report, and providing no one objects. If there 
is objection, a motion “that we now receive the 
report of the Committee" must be made, and if 


46 


parliamentary law. 


it is carried by a majority vote the report is 
heard. 

14. If the Committee disagree ivhat can be 
donef The minority may present a report, and 
the majority report should not be voted on un¬ 
til after the minority report has been read. 
Then if desired by the assembly the minority 
report may be substituted for the report of the 
committee, by a majority vote. When the re¬ 
port of a committee is made, the minority re¬ 
port should not be voted on unless it is used as a 
substitute. 

15. Should a Preamble be voted on ? Most 
reports have a Preamble. It should be read and 
voted on last. 

16. JIow can reports be adopted‘s As a 
whole, or seriatim. 

17. What is meant by seriatim f It is to con¬ 
sider, item by item, or, section by section, in 
regular order. 

18. After the reading of the report how ivill 
the Chair state it to the assembly f She will say, 
“ What will you do with this report?” Some 
one will move that it be considered seriatim, or 
that it be adopted as a whole. 

19. If considered seriatim how should 
the assembly proceed'^ In this case, the 
one reading the resolutions, will read the 
first one, and the Chair will call for re¬ 
marks or amendments; and if there are none 
the next will be taken up. If there is an 


M ISC E L L A N EOUS 


47 


amendment or a motion to lay on the table, the 
same will be voted on, but the original resolu¬ 
tion is not voted on at that time. The next 
resolution is then taken up, and so on until all 
have been satisfactorily arranged, when they 
should be voted on as a whole. 

20. W/i^ not adopt a set of resolutions sepa¬ 
rately f They should not be adopted separately, 
because, after all have been read, another op¬ 
portunity of debating or changing any one of 
them is given. 

21. Howp)roeeed to adopt as a wholes After 
the reading, some one will move that the reso¬ 
lutions be adopted as a whole, and the vote 
is taken at once upon the entire report. After 
its adoption the Preamble is read and 
voted on. 

22. When is a Committee discharged ? When 
the report of a Committee has been made and 
received the Committee dissolves, but may be 
revived by a vote. A motion to discharge a 
Committee is unnecessary. 

23. May the Committee he continued^ Yes: 
if the report was not accepted it may be referred 
to the same Committee or to another. 

24. What is the difference between “accept’’ 
and adopt 9 " There is no real difference in 
parliamentary usage. 

28. Committee of the Whole.—1. Why does 
an assembly sometimes resolve into a Committee 
of the Whole f For the informal consideration 


48 


parliamentary* Law. 


of a question when the assembly is not ready 
for final action upon it. 

2. What is the form f The form is, “I move 
that this assembly do now resolve itself into a 
Committee of the Whole to consider the ques¬ 
tion,” naming the question. If this carries by 
a majority vote the Presidiug Officer appoints a 
member to the Chair, and takes her place 
among the members. HoAvever, if the assembly 
objects, it can elect its own Chairman. 

3. What motions are in orders In a Com¬ 
mittee of the Whole the only motions in order 
are “To amend,” “To adopt,” “To limit de¬ 
bate,” and “That the committee rise and re¬ 
port.” This committee can not change the text 
of the resolution referrecfcRR' 

4. The Secretary shall keep a memorandum 
of the proceedings for the use of the committee, 
but such memorandum should not be recorded 
on the minutes. nly the report of the com¬ 
mittee is so recorded. 

5. If the committee wishes to dissolve, a mo¬ 
tion is made, “ That the committee rise and re¬ 
port.” When this motion is adopted the pre¬ 
siding officer takes the'k?hair, and the chairman 
of the committee informs her that the commit¬ 
tee has completed the business assigned it and 
is ready to report. 

29. Filling Blanks —1. Sometimes resolu¬ 
tions are introduced, or reports of committees 
made in w^hich blanks are left to be filled by the 


MISCEI.I.ANEOUS. 


49 


assembly. It is not necessary to make a motion 
to fill them, but any number of persons may 
suggest the number with which to fill them. 
These numbers should be voted on, beginning 
with the highest first. 

30. Renewing a Motion.—1. Hoiv may a 
motion be renewed'^ No Principal Motion or 
amendment, having been acted upon, except a 
motion to adjourn, can be taken up again at the 
same session, unless by a motion to reconsider. 

2. A motion to adjourn can be renewed if 

business or debate has intervened. A mo¬ 
tion to Suspend the Rules having been 
made cannot be renewed at that meet¬ 
ing for the purpose. Generally, 

when a motion alters the state of affairs, it is 
admissible to renew any Privileged, Incidental 
or Subsidiary Motion, excepting a motion to 
Amend, for the Orders of th; Ray, or for Sus¬ 
pension of the Rules. " 

3. A motion which has been withdrawn, has 
not been acted upon, and hence can be re¬ 
newed. 

31. A Session.—1. What is meant by a 
Session‘s In Congress the time Irom the 
beginning to the close of one term is called 
a Session. A meeting covers only the 
time from an assembling to an adjournment, 
and may be called many times during a Ses¬ 
sion; but a s ssion may be composed of one or^ 
many meetings. 


50 


PAKLIAMEXTARY LAW. 


32. A Quorum.—1 What is a Quorum^ 
By Quorum is meant enough members present 
to transact business. The rules of a body should 
fix the number. Where the number is not 
specified a majority constitutes a Quorum. 




HINTS. 


51 


A FEW HINTS IN BEHALF OF 
PUBLIC SPEAKERS. 


Do not expect a speaker to know every place 
in the world and the way to get there without 
definite directions. 

Do not let a speaker be worried by neglecting 
to write to her that some one will meet her at 
the train upon her arrival. 

Do not allow a speaker to walk a long dis¬ 
tance and carry her baggage. 

Do not put her in the historic spare bed-room 
with no fire and to sleep between cold sheets. 
Give her a dry, warm bed, and a room of like 
character. 

Do not think that the best way to entertain a 
speaker is to talk to her continuously. She 
would doubtless like to hear you, but is ofien 
too tired to listen. 

Do not keep her up late at night What she 
needs is rest, and she will do you better service 
if she gets it. 

Do not be late. Try to be at the meeting be¬ 
fore the speaker begins. 

Do not assign a speaker a long distance from 
the public meeting and expect her to walk. 



52 


HINTS. 


Do not arrange for one lecture and expect two 
for the same price. . . , , 

Do not expect public speakers to work for a 
mere pittance. They are at ah expense all the 
time. Pay them well. They usually earn all 
they get. 




^^TRE/^SURED TI^OUGHTS 


A NEW LITERARY GEM BOOK. 


JUST WHAT IS NEEDED FOR SCHOOLS, HOMES, 
READING CIRCLES, AND FOR PRIVATE STUDY 
OF THE BEST LITERATURE. 


PLAN OF THE BOOK. 

I. Quotations for Children. 

11. Thoughts for Parents and Teachers. 

III. Scripture Quotations. 

IV. Suggestions on Devotional Exercises in Schools and 
Family Worship. 

V. Questions from twenty-four leading American and 
English authors—Longfellow, Whittier, Shakespeare, Tennyson, 
etc.— each one separate. 

VI. Quotations on Special Subjects—Home, Mother, Pa¬ 
triotism, Friends, Helpfulness, Education, Hooks and Reading, 
Music, Woman, Temperance, Praise of the Bible, Religion. 

VII. Miscellaneous Quotations. 

VIII. A list of 200 Best Books for Children and Young 
People. 

IX. A short list of Best Books for Teachers and Parents. 

After the topics are blank pages for recording books read, 
poems memorized, and for writing additional choice quotations. 

Best cloth binding, SO Ots. Sent post paid to any 
address on receipt of the price. 

Introduction price ^^.SO per doz., pr&psiid. 

Very beautiful copies of this book —fine light-blue or red 
cloth binding, gold stamp, gilt edgesan elegant present — price 
^1.00. Ask for them at Book Stores, or address the author, 

F. V. IRISH, 

Office in Smythe’s Book Store, COLUMBUS, O. 

KW" The List of 200 Best Books will be very helpful in 
selecting good books. 

Irish’s Text-Book on American and English Literature 
will be published by July 1st, 1893. 






Memories i Crusade 

IS A =:^ 

BOOK OF THRILLING INTEREST 

And ought to be in the home of every friend of 
temperance and humanity. 

It is strictly accurate, giving only facts, but 
these facts are more wonderful than fiction. 

The pictures glow with the fire that character¬ 
ized the deeds of the women in the Crusade 
days. _ 

THE UNION SIGNAL SAYS: 

“ It is a book to thrill every heart, as it brings up with 
startling distinctness the memories of the crusade. Its pages 
are packed full of incidents of those heroic days that tried 
women’s souls, and treasures up memories that ought not to 
he left to die.” 

THE NEW YORK WITNESS SAYS: 

“ It is an historical classic. The scenes depicted are so 
thrilling that novels seem tame in comparison.” 

CLINTON B. FISK SAID: 

“ I could do nothing hut read on and on all afternoon and 
late enough in the night to complete the wonderful story of 
one of the greatest movements of modern tftnes.” 

OVER 550 RAGES. PRICE S2. BEST TERMS TO AG’TS. 

Special arrangements made with unions. Address 

' MOTHER STEWART, 

Springfield, O. 


* * i-» . 

/ 

t 

t 

/ 

'V 


\ ■ 


The Union 

Signal, 

Chicago. 


“A Compendium and Question Book of Parliamentary Law ” 
arranged by Lilian Cole Bethel. This little volume only about 
? fifty pages in number and small in dimensions—is what one 
might term “meaty,” since every word in it is worth “inwardly 
digesting.” It is dedicated to womankind and has been 
especially designed as a hand-book that may be relied upon in 
the study of Parliamentary form. It will be found of great value 
to W. C. T. U. women who wish to post themselves thoroughly 
on the ways [and means of entering the “arena of discussion,” 
and becoming victors therein. Published by the author, Colum¬ 
bus, Ohio. 


1. O. OF G. T. 1 

Office of Grand Superintendent ob Juvenile Templars, ! 

OF THE Grand Lodge of Illinois. ( 
Chicago, III., February 23, 1893. J 

Your valuable little book on “Parliamentary Usage,” is 
just the work that is needed for ready reference by anyone called 
to preside over a deliberative body, and calculated to relieve the 
tiitiid from unnecessary embarrassment, felt when called to pre¬ 
side at a publfc meeting without such a guide. 

I shall take pleasure in recommending the little companion to 
my co-workers of the Juvenile Order of the 1. O. G. T. 

Yours truly, 

MRS. E. A. MILLS, G. S. J. T. 







